Hemicyclaspis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hemicyclaspis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| H. murchisoni and Thyestes | |
 | |
| Life reconstruction. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Infraphylum: | Agnatha |
| Class: | †Osteostraci |
| Order: | †Atelaspidiformes |
| Family: | †Ateleaspididae |
| Genus: | †Hemicyclaspis |
Hemicyclaspis (lit. 'half-round shield' or 'semicircle plate') is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish, closely related to Cephalaspis, that lived in the Late Silurian (Pridoli)[1] to Devonian period in what is now Europe and North America. A typical cephalaspid, Hemicyclaspis had a heavily armored, shovel-shaped headshield. It is thought to have been a better swimmer than most of its relatives because of its powerful tail, stabilizing dorsal fin and the keel-shaped hydrodynamic edges of its head shield. Hemicyclaspis probably foraged the ocean floor for food.[2]
Hemicyclaspis grew to a length of 5 inches (13 centimeters) and would most likely have fed on particles from the muddy sea bed.
1953 plaster reconstruction.
